Customer Reviews

Ps Mr Cole

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In again turning to songs made popular by Nat Cole for album material, this crooner/guitarist is smart enough to take more than just song titles. The hallmark of the Cole trio was always the superb musicianship that enhanced and never competed with either the lyric or Mr. Cole's reading of the song. Pizzarelli takes a similar approach on this CD, giving us straight-ahead readings of old chestnuts such as "Smile," "Candy," and "Tenderly," while also introducing us to the lesser-known "Meet Me at No Special Place" and "Welcome to the Club."

When Pizzarelli gets the right material, it seems to fit him like the proverbial old pair of shoes. Unlike his more publicized contemporaries Harry Connick and Diana Krall, in whose music one can almost sense the marketing department in the studio booth, Pizzarelli's music is long on rhythms short on affectations.

Tenor sax guy Harry Allen jumps in for a couple of tracks and, as when Harry Edison would sneak onto Nat Cole's small group albums, we are grateful for the visit. Ray Kennedy and Martin Pizzarelli, on piano and bass respectively, provide the low-key foundation that allows this album to fly high. In the spirit of the Nat Cole Trio, Pizzarelli's group is all about retraint here, and this is not a complaint by any means.

The only "non-Nat" song is #18, a live version of "I Like Jersey Best." Like many people, I had only heard about this peon to the Garden State. The live version allows Pizzarelli to imitate both Lou Rawls and Lou Reed (but not New Jerseyan Lou Costello)in the same verse, and his Billie Holiday is not to be missed.

This CD was a Christmas gift and I truly could not be happier with it. I unwrapped it, read the liner notes and, literally, played it three times without stopping. This is absolutely wonderful jazz playing: rocking and wild one minute & smooth and subtle the next. Pizzarelli's guitar playing is top notch and his voice has the charm and character of Fred Astaire: light, sophisticated, sweet and real easy on the ear. The album is a tribute to Nat King Cole and every song is a winner. My favorites are "Walking My Baby Back Home," "Tenderly," "Embraceable You," and "Candy" which comes complete with a short, clever homage to Cole's hit "Mona Lisa." The final number is taken from a live performance....what a funny song "I Like Jersey Best" is and it is given an even funnier performance by Pizzarelli and his wonderful trio. Highly Recommended.

This is one album that would be impossible to give less than 5 stars. It is chock full of great songs, from great up-tempo, foot-stomping, swingers, to beautiful ballads,..this album has it all. Previously only available in Japan, this album was finally made available elsewhere, due to rave reviews and public demand. Also, as an added bonus, we are treated to a wonderful live recording of "I Like Jersey Best", in which we hear John's wonderful sense of humour as well as his clever impersonations. So if you would like to hear John sing as Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday, Lou Rawls, Mel Torme, Paul Simon, The Beach Boys, and Lou Reed, then you just have to purchase this album. The price is worth it for that song alone, although the whole album is fantastic. Highly recommended.

The first time I heard Mr. Pizzarelli was on internet radio. When I heard him sing I Love U for Sentimental Reasons, tears began rolling down my eyes (i miss my wife cuz she's out of the country right now). This guy just hit me right inside my heart. This Cd is a must buy because it has a good collection of classic songs plus the way he performed them are just simply fantastic. This is a trio by the way- guitar, piano, and bass. His guitar playing is sweet, piano and bass accompaniment was good too. Best songs here are: Candy, Azure-Te, ...for Sentimental Reasons, and Tenderly. Get this CD.

Well, I bought the CD the first day it was out! For those of you familiar with John, you won't be disappointed. He brings his incomparable trio sound to classics like Embraceable You and Walkin' My Baby Back Home. His incredible sense of humor comes out in the final track, I Like Jersey Best. John often sings this one as a closer to his concerts (this one from his recent tour in Japan), and he performs sections a la Lou Rawls, Beach Boys and Paul Simon, to name a few. It's hysterical, not to be missed. There's also a little surpise in his rendition of The Late Late Show. For those of you who aren't familiar with John, he sings and plays a 7-string guitar, leading his trio of brother Martin on bass and Ray Kennedy on piano. They have several recordings out, all of which are great. Aside from this follow-up to Dear Mr. Cole, the most recent are Meets the Beatles, and Our Love Is Here To Stay. And John always says, "Buy in bulk". These albums are few in the world that deserve it.

Being a fan of both Mr. Pizzarelli and Mr. Cole, this compilation is a perfect combination of both. Mr. Pizzarelli is at his best when doing the great songs of Nat Cole, and this might be his best work to date.

How can I review this product.DO you not know that I NEVER RECEIVED IT.How am I supposed to rate it??????